Failure of oral zinc supplementation in atopic eczema.

An eight week double-blind placebo-controlled trial of oral zinc sulphate 185.4 mg per day was undertaken in 50 children with atopic eczema aged 1-16 years. In those receiving zinc there was no significant improvement in disease severity as assessed by surface area affected and degree of erythema, symptom scores of itch, sleep disturbance and redness of skin, or weight of emollient or topical steroid use.